Warning: This project is messy!! Spread
newspapers around the workspace!!

Warning Two: This project will probably require
two days!!

Step One - Blow up the balloon and tie a
knot at the end. Tear newspapers into strips about 1 inch wide
and about 6 inches long. Pour some of the glue into a disposable
bowl or a bowl you don't mind soaking in water for a long while.
Dip the newspaper strips into the glue and spread them onto the
balloon. Thoroughly cover the balloon. Let the first layer dry.

Step Two - Repeat Step One two more
times.

Step Three - Lay the dry balloon on its
side so it forms an oval shape. Cut a hole about 2 inches across
on the top of the oval (see Diagram A). If scissors don't work
you may want to have mom or dad use a knife. DO NOT use a knife
without an adult present!!! Save the piece you cut out.
Carefully, pop the balloon (if it's not already popped) and take
it out. Cut two more very small holes in the body on each side
of the big hole. Place the hole for the front a little closer to
the big hole than the hole for the rear so your pinata will
balance well (see Diagram A). Cut two pieces of string or yarn
about 18 inches long. Tie a knot at the end of both string and
bring up through the holes. Tie the ends of the strings together
with a secure knot. (You can save tying the ends together until
you have finished decorating if you wish.)

Diagram A

Step Four - Now you have a big decision
to make. If you want to use your pinata for a decoration, tape
the piece you cut out back to the rest of the pinata. If you
want to fill your pinata with goodies and play the pinata game,
do not tape the piece back onto the pinata. Save it, however, to
decorate separately. You may decide you want to make two
pinatas!!

Step Five - Cut an oval of tissue paper
or construction paper (You can choose whatever colors you want
or you can use the colors in the picture above.) The size of
your oval depends on the size of your balloon. Make sure it's
big enough to cover the bottom well. Glue the oval to the bottom
of the pinata body.

Step Seven - Cut out the pinata head
patterns. Cut on the heavy lines up to the decoration on the
neck. Use one head as a pattern to cut out a thin piece of
cardboard for reinforcement. (You only need to reinforce the
head from the nose to the neck decoration) Cut the cardboard
just slightly smaller than the head. Now glue the two heads
together with the cardboard in the middle. Color both sides of
the head. Glue the cut tabs to the front of the body.

Step Eight - Repeat Step Seven with the
tail pattern and glue it to the rear of the body. (See Diagram
B) Let the glue dry before you go on to Step Nine.

Diagram B

Step Nine -Cut a lot of strips
of tissue paper or construction paper about 1 inch wide and 2
inches long. Start at the bottom of the pinata making sure the
first row overlaps the bottom oval and glue one end of the strip
to the body. Continue until the body is covered. You want the
paper strips to look like fringe. (See Diagram C) Let the glue
dry before you go on to Step Ten.

Diagram C

Step Ten - Cut out leg patterns. There
are one pair of front legs and one pair of rear legs. Reinforce
with lightweight cardboard, cutting the cardboard the SAME size
as the legs. Color BOTH sides of each pair of legs. Cut the X
lines on the pair of rear legs. Very carefully slide the tail
through the cut X and glue the legs to the body. Glue the front
legs under the head. Try to glue on the front legs so they are
even with the rear legs. You may want to glue on a few more
strips of tissue paper or construction paper to cover the top
edge of the legs. Let the glue dry before you go on to Step
Eleven.

Step Eleven - If you have decided to use
your pinata for the pinata game, you want to fill it up with
goodies (candy, small toys, whatever you like). Take the piece
you saved from the top and carefully tape it back on the body
with clear tape. Cover the top piece with strips of paper. If
you haven't done so before, tie the ends of your hanging string
together with a secure knot.

Step Twelve - Enjoy your pinata OR play
the pinata game. This game would be a lot of fun at a Christmas
party or at a Birthday party. To start, hang the pinata up from
the ceiling. Each child takes a turn trying to break the pinata.
Blindfold the child who's turn it is. Give the child a stick (a
broom handle works well). Turn the child around in a circle 2 or
3 times and point him or her in the direction of the pinata. The
child gets to swing the stick 2 or 3 times. Make sure everyone
else stands clear of the swinging stick, including the
grown-ups!!! Then another child gets a turn. When someone breaks
the pinata, all the children get to gather the goodies. You
might want to have little paper bags with each child's name on
them so the kids have a place to store their goodies for the
remainder of the party and a way to carry everything home.

If you are feeling very ambitious, you can always expand this
project and make your pinata even more three dimensional. Use a
second small balloon for the head with a cardboard neck and
cardboard tubes for the legs. Be sure to adjust your string holes
to compensate for the extra weight of the head. You can also try
other making other figures. We once made a bat, for example, for a
Halloween party.